Bill Oddie’s daughter, the actor Kate Hardie, has stepped briefly back into the public eye to pay tribute to her father, who died this week at the age of 85.

The death of the naturalist and comedian, who found fame in the 1970s as a member of the comedy trio The Goodies, was confirmed by his friend and agent David Foster on Monday (27 July).

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder,” Foster’s statement read. “Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued. Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment.

“He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it. He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten. As Bill’s agent I witnessed close hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly.”

Mentioned in Foster’s statement were Oddie’s wife and children, including his actor daughter Kate. Fans may remember her from a raft of acclaimed films in the Eighties and Nineties – her credits included the gangster classic Mona Lisa (1986) alongside Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine, as well as 1987’s Oscar-nominated drama Cry Freedom, which was directed by Richard Attenborough and co-starred Denzel Washington. She also played Reggie Kray’s wife Frances in the crime movie The Krays (1990).

Hardie has acted only sparingly over the last two decades, and admitted in an Instagram post celebrating her father that she tends – and intends – to stay private.

“I only use Instagram to look at birds and am not into posting here,” Hardie wrote. “But I’m opening this portal up for a day (will then bugger off again) to say – he was bloody amazing.”

Hardie continued, of her dad: “He made no secret of his struggles and it’s been a complex thing having OBEOneBillOddie as a dad but also a total honour if not a little intimidating as he was talented in a way I still can’t fathom.”

She recommended that anyone reading should explore her father’s music and his paintings, as well as his advocacy work. Hardie also urged people to listen to the radio version of her father’s episode of the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are, “and see where he came from”.

“Thanks so much in advance for your care and wishes but if you don’t know about his fragile marbles and all he dealt with, read some of Dad’s interviews where he talks of them,” she continued. “I have had my own marble struggles and the crazy arse world of social media I found – apart from the bird photos – does little for them so I’ll be out of here again sharpish.”

“There is much joy and awe to be found in a Bill Oddie rabbit hole and I’ll miss him very very much,” she concluded.

In a follow-up post, Hardie posted a classic photograph of her father and her late mother, Jeanne Hart (“an irreverent, wildly talented unique pair of humans if ever there was,” she wrote), and thanked people for the many kind messages she had received about her dad.

“I’ve been so focussed on trying to be with and to play my part in supporting dad at the end of his life I haven’t been able to reflect and truly relish all that life entailed,” she wrote. “His legacy is definitely something to behold! Attenborough eat your heart out – where’s your music and comedy career to boot?!”

She also thanked those who had discussed her father’s struggles with mental illness, which he spoke openly about throughout his lifetime. Oddie received a formal diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2009, shortly after being dropped from the BBC series Springwatch in 2008. The BBC said that Oddie was replaced on the show due to his “health problems”, but Oddie himself claimed that he was given a “waffly statement” in regards to his exit. He described the period as the worst of his life, admitting that he attempted suicide twice and was under hospital care for more than a year.

Hardie wrote in her Instagram post: “I am also glad it is now being spoken about how badly at times he was treated by the industry he gave so much to. I have thoughts on how those who struggle with mental health issues get treated in the arts and especially those who are from more ‘oiky’ (dads word) backgrounds to others – maybe one day I will say more on this.”

Her post joins a number of tributes from Oddie’s friends and loved ones, including the presenter Kate Humble, who co-hosted Springwatch alongside Oddie. She described him as “brilliant, wonderful, maddening, clever, and infuriating”.